Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage to discuss the holding of polls if Covid-19 restrictions are in place

The purpose of the meeting, scheduled for Committee Room 3 (watch live), is an engagement with Malcolm Noonan, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The Government recently approved the general scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill 2021, which provides for the establishment of a statutory, independent Electoral Commission for Ireland, the modernisation of the electoral process, the regulation of online political advertising during electoral events and amendments to electoral law to facilitate the holding of electoral events where Covid-19 restrictions are in place.

In advance of the meeting, Committee Chair, Steven Matthews, TD, said:“Electoral reform was a significant commitment in the Programme for Government. There is plenty of evidence of flaws in the maintenance of the Register of Electors, and online political advertising is increasingly a feature of the electoral landscape. The Committee looks forward to engaging with the Minister of State on this important piece of legislation.”

For more information about the work of the Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, see the Committee webpage